Rivian Ghostbusters Update Turns EVs Into Ecto-1

The Rivian Ghostbusters Update lands over the air on October 9, turning any compatible EV into a rolling Ecto-1 tribute packed with lights, sounds, characters, and a generous amount of slime. The takeover runs through November 2, giving owners nearly a month to embrace the spooky side of their electric vehicle. Rivian has put together its Halloween costume well ahead of schedule.

A Software Costume Change

The Rivian Ghostbusters Update goes far deeper than a new wallpaper or a themed icon. It's a full software takeover. Halloween Mode unlocks all kinds of lights, sounds, games, and characters that stick around all season long, and it's a complete package that keeps giving the whole season through. It's not a quick visual tweak.

Inside the cabin, Halloween-themed characters including Ghost Guard and Slimer hide among different screens. Finding them reveals a silly animation and sound. Rivian's voice assistant joins the festivities by speaking in an eerie tone, reading clues, cueing light shows, and playing spooky sound effects.

Characters Hide on Every Screen

• Ghost Guard and Slimer lurk across different displays
• Finding each character triggers a silly animation and sound
• The voice assistant speaks in an eerie tone, reads clues, and cues light shows

Trick or Treat Mode Cues the Theme Song

When parked, the EVs can be fully consumed by ghostbusting madness. Toggling Halloween Mode swaps out Rivian's traditional software interface with Ghostbusters-themed screens and minigames, and it's a complete visual overhaul that changes what drivers see on every screen. Trick or Treat Mode takes it several steps further. The Ghostbusters theme song plays while exterior lights and sound effects match the music. And they're synced together.

Control It From the Driver's Seat or the Phone

Settings change inside the car. They also live in the Rivian app. So the vehicle can seemingly come to life without anyone sitting inside it, which is a strange thought when you're standing in your driveway at night and the lights just start doing their thing. Four light and sound shows are available. They can even be programmed to start up when the car senses motion near it. But for drivers who want a subtler nod to the season, new custom lock sounds can replace the traditional chirp with something a bit more eerie, and that's the kind of small detail you don't expect until you hear it.

Four light and sound shows. Motion-sensing triggers. Remote activation from the app. The car doesn't need a human in the driver's seat to haunt the driveway.

But the ghostbusting has a clear boundary. Once the wheels start rolling, it's done. Spooky effects take a back seat when the car is in motion, and what remains is subtle, because the priority shifts to driving and the playful touches don't interfere with that. The standard Rivian graphic on the gauge cluster wears Ecto-1 markings. White text shifts to lime green in dark mode. While charging, Slimer can be spotted swimming through the green battery percentage indicator. And that's it.

Ecto-R1 Brings the Hardware

The Rivian Ghostbusters Update creates the software layer. But the company also built something physical to match, and a handful of R1S SUVs were transformed into an Ecto-R1 army, decked out with props that would make any propmaster proud. It's a real fleet. They don't hold back.

• White wheels
• Sirens and spotlights
• Side tanks
• The iconic "No Ghost" logo

These Ecto-R1 models will be shown at events at Rivian's retail stores throughout the Halloween season. They're ghostbusting EVs. And they'll appear at other Halloween-themed gatherings this month too. The ghostbusting EV will also appear at other Halloween-themed gatherings this month, including the NYC Village Halloween Parade, which means you've got more chances to see it if you don't catch it at a Rivian store first.

Mark the Calendar

October 9 begins the rollout, delivered with the latest software version. The optional Ghostbusters takeover stays live until November 2, after which the haunted interface disappears. The season is short but loaded with spectacle.

For owners who grew up watching Ghostbusters, the Rivian Ghostbusters Update delivers the kind of seasonal delight that software updates rarely achieve. No hardware retrofit, no trip to the service center. Just an over-the-air download and a willingness to let Slimer swim through your battery gauge.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Rivian Ghostbusters Update?

The Rivian Ghostbusters Update is an over-the-air software takeover released on October 9 that turns compatible EVs into a rolling Ecto-1 tribute packed with lights, sounds, characters, and slime. Halloween Mode unlocks all kinds of lights, sounds, games, and characters that stick around all season long. It is not a quick visual tweak, but a complete package.

How do drivers control the spooky settings and light shows?

Settings change inside the car, and they also live in the Rivian app. Four light and sound shows are available, and they can even be programmed to start up when the car senses motion near it. Remote activation from the app means the car doesn't need a human in the driver's seat to haunt the driveway.

When does the Rivian Ghostbusters Update rollout begin and end?

October 9 begins the rollout, delivered with the latest software version. The optional Ghostbusters takeover stays live until November 2, after which the haunted interface disappears. The season is short but loaded with spectacle.

What happens to the spooky effects while the vehicle is in motion?

Once the wheels start rolling, it's done. Spooky effects take a back seat when the car is in motion, and what remains is subtle, because the priority shifts to driving and the playful touches don't interfere with that. The standard Rivian graphic on the gauge cluster wears Ecto-1 markings, and white text shifts to lime green in dark mode.

What physical Ecto-R1 models did Rivian build for the Halloween season?

A handful of R1S SUVs were transformed into an Ecto-R1 army, decked out with props including white wheels, sirens and spotlights, side tanks, and the iconic "No Ghost" logo. These Ecto-R1 models will be shown at events at Rivian's retail stores throughout the Halloween season, and they'll also appear at other Halloween-themed gatherings this month, including the NYC Village Halloween Parade.